Appointment calendar gives peek into life of top Mountie, RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson

Being Canada’s top Mountie means getting briefed on an investigation into an alleged terrorism plot and then, hours later, hopping on a plane to accompany Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, on a trip to Iqaluit because he is, after all, an “honorary deputy commissioner” of the RCMP.

It means making sure the federal public safety minister — or at least the deputy minister — is kept abreast of high-profile and sensitive cases.

And it means getting invited to dinners with the Governor General and having to conduct the occasional “courtesy call” with obscure groups, such as the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

Those are some of the insights into the life of RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson that can be gleaned from the pages of his electronic appointment calendar, which Postmedia News obtained through an access-to- information request. The records covered his meetings from Sept. 1, 2012 to Sept. 1, 2013. Some parts were redacted because they contained personal information.

Records show that beginning in June 2013, the commissioner began receiving at least monthly updates from top officials on the investigation into the Senate expenses scandal.

RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson takes part in a press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, June 20, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

A handful of appointments labelled “urgent,” “top secret” or “special investigation” all appeared to be related to national security and typically involved one or more of the following senior people: Vic Toews, the former public safety minister; Francois Guimont, deputy public safety minister; Mike Cabana, the RCMP’s deputy commissioner for federal policing; Richard Fadden, the former CSIS director; Stephen Rigby, the prime minister’s national security adviser; and David Vigneault, assistant secretary to cabinet on security and intelligence matters.

One urgent briefing for the public safety minister happened Jan. 16, 2013, the day that terrorists — including two young Canadians — stormed a gas plant in Algeria in a deadly attack.

Paulson also gave the minister personal briefings on the results of a commission of inquiry into missing and murdered women in British Columbia and on an investigation into an alleged plot to derail a Via Rail passenger train, just as police were getting ready to move in and arrest two suspects.

At least three meetings were held between Paulson, Guimont and Andrew House, the minister’s chief of staff, to discuss “communications” or a “communications plan.” Neither RCMP nor public safety officials would elaborate on Friday. Under a communications protocol signed in September 2011, RCMP agreed to give advance notice to public safety officials about any “major events,” that were “likely to garner national media attention.”

On at least one occasion, Paulson met with Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of Canada, regarding an “operational file.” The RCMP would not comment on the purpose of that meeting. Alexandre Deslongchamps, a Bank of Canada spokesman, said he couldn’t even confirm the meeting took place.

“I would note that Bank of Canada Governors meet with their RCMP counterpart as a matter of course, as both organizations are involved in combating counterfeiting of bank notes,” he said in an email.

One of the more peculiar appointment entries was for a phone chat with Don Head, commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada, to discuss a “repentant and cooperative witness in (a) federal institution.” A corrections spokesman said privacy laws prevented officials from commenting on an offender.

Paulson was frequently on a plane. If he wasn’t dropping in on RCMP divisions, he was travelling abroad. After being nominated to Interpol’s executive committee in Rome in November 2012, he attended committee meetings in Lyon, France, in March and June 2013.

There was also a lengthy trip to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in Southeast Asia and Auckland, New Zealand to meet with local police and maritime enforcement officials to discuss efforts to thwart migrant smuggling. Expense reports posted online show that Paulson’s trip cost just over $22,000.

Aside from the public safety minister, Paulson’s interaction with federal politicians appeared to be limited, though he did make time for breakfast with Sen. Vern White, an ex-Mountie and former chief of the Ottawa Police Service, and a phone call with Sen. Romeo Dallaire, to “catch up and touch base.” There was also dinner with Peter MacKay, two days after he was appointed justice minister.

Paulson attended at least two dinners with Governor General David Johnston, as well as a reception at the residence of the Italian ambassador to Canada on the occasion of Italy’s national day.

Records show that Paulson was not above chatting with his predecessors. He had at least one phone call each with William Elliott and Bev Busson.

Appointment calendar records reveal who Bob Paulson interacts with on a regular basis. They include:

Mike Cabana, deputy commissioner for federal policing. He’s in charge of overseeing investigations related to terrorism, national security and organized crime, as well as protection of the prime minister and dignitaries.

Daniel Lavoie, executive director for public affairs.He gives communications advice to Paulson and senior management and is an overall troubleshooter.

Dan Dubeau, chief human resources officer. He’s in charge of recruitment and other personnel issues, such as reforms to health-care coverage for Mounties.

Francois Guimont, deputy public safety minister. He’s a longtime public servant who was previously deputy minister of public works and government services.

Rennie Marcoux, chief of strategic policy. She advises on sensitive files, such as the destruction of the long-gun registry. She previously worked in the Privy Council Office, supporting the prime minister’s national security adviser.

Abe Townsend, national executive member of the RCMP’s non-union staff representative/labour relations program.